Sharing Success Charity Challenge Winners Receive $4,500 | Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc

November 27, 2023

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SCOTT CITY–We are excited to announce that the winner of this year’s Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc.’s Sharing Success Charity Challenge is Central Kansas CASA, Inc.

The non-profit organization based in Great Bend, which serves five central Kansas counties (Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Russell, and Stafford), advocates for abused and neglected children by providing a pool of trained and caring volunteers who speak in their best interest, according to their mission statement.

Central Kansas CASA is the recipient of a $2,500 Sharing Success grant through the Sharing Success Charity Challenge. The organization was championed by Wheatland Electric’s cooperative membership and Facebook fans and followers (through multiple rounds of online voting during the contest held entirely on social media from Oct. 23 through Nov. 13, 2023).

In addition, three other finalists in our online contest also received Sharing Success grants.

They include the Southwest Kansas Women Infants and Children (WIC), which received a $1,000 grant for placing second; Conway Springs BPW located in Conway Springs, a committee of motivated local women committed to making a positive impact on the community, which received a $500 grant; and Family Crisis Center, Inc., based in Great Bend, which runs a domestic and sexual violence shelter and child advocacy center, which also received $500.

To engage our membership and promote two of our seven cooperative principles, we turned the decision-making power over to our membership for the fourth year in a row during this grant selection process.

Throughout the online contest, our co-op members and other Facebook followers were encouraged to nominate and vote for a deserving non-profit or other charitable community-based organizations within our service territory and rally friends and family to do the same.

Now, more than ever during this holiday season, we recognize the importance of helping one another, giving thanks, and paying it forward.

That’s because cooperatives like us are governed by core principles, including democratic member control and concern for community. The first endorses active member participation in the future and direction of our cooperative. And the second promotes our work for the sustainable development of our communities through policies supported by our membership.

We want to thank all our members who helped select these four deserving Sharing Success grant recipients.

Central Kansas CASA, Inc., based in Great Bend and serving Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Russell, and Stafford counties, counties, was championed by fans and followers on Wheatland’s Facebook page to win a $2,500 Sharing Success grant during our Sharing Success Charity Challenge. Pictured here is Jennifer Gregg, executive director, with her daughter

Southwest Kansas WIC — Shruti Chhabra, director of the Finney County Health Department, and Jessica Mueller, WIC coordinator/dietician, accept a $1,000 Sharing Success grant. The organization that provides education and nutrition to women, children and infants placed as runner-up in our Sharing Success Charity Challenge on Facebook.

Family Crisis Center — Saylem Ryff (left), program director, and Kylee Graves, executive director, accept a $500 Sharing Success grant for their fourth-place finish in the Sharing Success Charity Challenge through Wheatland Electric.

Members of Conway Springs BPW (Busy, Productive Women) receive a $500 Sharing Success grant from Wheatland Electric for placing third in our Sharing Success Charity Challenge, a Facebook contest. Pictured from left are Debbie Runyan, Melissa Winter, April Zoglmann, Jill Grimm, and Jamie Kempke, local residents of the group.